Today's reflection ( Ayah 38-39 , Surah Al- Baqarah)

  قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنِّي هُدًى فَمَنْ تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

We said, “Go down from it, all of you. Yet whenever guidance comes to you from Me, then whoever follows My guidance — they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve.

(Quran 2:38)

 وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

But as for those who disbelieve and reject Our signs — these are the inmates of the Fire — wherein they will remain forever. "

(Quran 2:39)

As we already know that Adam (A.S) was forbidden from eating the fruit of a particular tree in Jannah and had been warned about the workings of Shaytan - Man's sworn and open enemy.The earlier verses have related how Adam (A.S) came to commit an error through the seduction of Satan, and how he was commanded to leave Paradise and to go down to the earth. He had never experienced the displeasure of Allah before, nor heard such words of reproach. He could not bear it, and in the face of remorse at once wanted to beg humbly for pardon. Seeing the agony of remorse in Adam (A.S), Allah accepted his repentance, and his grace taught him the words of a prayer so that he could beg for pardon and also honored him prophet-hood. 

The Arabic word for repentance is taubah which means 'a return'. So, taubah is not merely an emotional attitude as the English word, 'repentance' seems to suggest. The word taubah is used with reference to Allah as much to men. When the word taubah is employed in case of a man, it signifies a necessary combination of three things: Firstly,acknowledging one's sin as a sin, being ashamed of it and feeling remorseful, secondly giving up the sin altogether and thirdly making up one's mind firmly never to indulge in it again. 

If any one of these three elements is missing, the taubah is not genuine. Thus, it is not enough for one to attain Allah's forgiveness by merely uttering the words of repentance, unless the words are supported by remorse for the sins committed in the past, abstinence from them in the present and determination of not giving way to them in the future.

The earth was not created as a place of punishment for Adam (A.S) and his progeny like how it is pointed out in other faiths. In Islam , Adam (A.S) was send down to earth to serve as Allah's slave and vicegerent.

It is not for us humans to prescribe the way of life which his fellow human beings should follow. In his capacity as the subject and vicegerent of Allah, man is required to follow the way of life prescribed by his Lord. There are only two means of access to this way: either by direct revelation from Allah or by following one to whom Allah has revealed guidance. Nothing else can direct man to the way that enjoys Allah's approval and good pleasure.  Hence those who reject Allah's signs , his revelations , guidance  and will be resorting to any other means in quest of salvation is not only fundamentally mistaken but their actions will be equivalent to rebellion.